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Too much technology ICC head calls for end to video replays to protect umpires
Posted: Tuesday May 11, 1999 07:01 PM
LONDON (AP) -- As cricket finishes a century of global expansion and prepares for the new Millennium with a World Cup, one of the game's leading figures is warning against embracing too much technology. Sir Clyde Walcott, the first non-Englishman to become chairman of the International Cricket Council, says video replays at grounds should be scrapped to protect umpires. Two crowd riots in the Caribbean just prior to the tournament, caused by controversial decisions in the West Indies vs. Australia limited-overs series, may support his argument. Walcott, a former West Indies test batsman and wicketkeeper who was manager of the World Cup-winning West Indies teams in 1975 and '79, said umpires were already under too much scrutiny. Speaking Monday in London at the launch of his book Sixty Years on the Back Foot, Walcott said cricket had improved with modern technology. But there had to be limits. "You shouldn't place the umpires in a position to be embarrassed -- they're only human," Walcott said. "I'd hate to think the game will ever be controlled fully by technology -- I don't think it will happen in my time." The ICC cricket committee chairman said he wasn't predicting any crowd problems in England for the World Cup. "If you look at England and soccer, then crowd violence can occur," he said. "But I think the soccer crowds and the cricket crowds are different." Walcott said if national associations couldn't ensure international venues were safe for players and officials, the ICC would have to take a more proactive role. "I don't think the intention [during the riots] was to injure people, more to protest certain decisions. But that's still not good for cricket," he said. Turning to the action on the field, Walcott said South Africa has earned its status as favorite for this World Cup, although Australia, Pakistan and the West Indies were also strong chances. "Limited-overs cricket is a definite gamble. It's not necessarily the best team that wins, it's the team that performs better on the day," he said. "My favorite is South Africa because of its recent performances, not necessarily against the West Indies whey they thrashed us recently, but over a long period. "When they came back into international cricket they really were one-day cricketers. Since then their test cricket has improved but they have remained an excellent limited-overs team." Walcott said Pakistan was a good side but could be affected by losing coach Javed Miandad in the leadup to the tournament. The best World Cup he'd experienced was the inaugural tournament in 1975 due to the atmosphere. "This one can be up for it provided the weather is good in England, which is always doubtful," he said. Walcott said Sri Lanka's innovative tactics at the last World Cup had helped the island nation rise from cricket minnows to world champions. But they'd have to come up with something new to win again. He also said it wouldn't be long before one or two of the non-test countries received full test status. "Bangladesh has an application on the table and Kenya has given notice it intends to apply for full membership," he said. "We're not expecting these countries will win the World Cup to earn test status - even if they're beaten now, like Zimbabwe was, like Sri Lanka was. They're making good progress," Walcott. "If a team from Europe was this strong or a team from North America was in this position -- it would just be a matter of course to grant test status."
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